By Ibrahim Muhammad
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over the sum of ₦387,483,488.00 recovered from fraudulent activities to the Jigawa State Government.
This was confirmed by the Commission via its official Facebook page on Tuesday.
The funds were presented on Tuesday at the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate office in Kano to the Director of Treasury Operations, Muhammad Haruna, during a brief ceremony.
The recovery followed an investigation triggered by intelligence from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), which flagged alleged misappropriation of public funds involving two suspects, Abdullahi Garba and Ayuba Sani.
Acting on the intelligence, EFCC operatives conducted a detailed probe that led to the recovery of the full amount from the accused persons.
Following the investigation, the suspects were arraigned in court on charges bordering on misappropriation of public funds.
One of the defendants, Abdullahi Garba, was convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty, while the second suspect, Ayuba Sani, is still standing trial.
Speaking during the handover, the Acting Zonal Director of the Kano Directorate, ACE I Friday S. Ebelo, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to tackling corruption and ensuring that stolen public funds are recovered.
He said the EFCC remains resolute in its mandate to investigate financial crimes and deliver justice, noting that the recovery underscores the agency’s determination to prevent diversion of funds meant for public development.
In his remarks, Haruna, who received the bank draft on behalf of the state government, commended the EFCC for its diligence and professionalism.
He noted that the recovered funds would ultimately benefit the people of Jigawa State, describing the effort as a strong demonstration of the importance of anti-corruption agencies in safeguarding public resources.
